Did you know that the famous English proverb, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” is not found in the Bible? Yes its not there.

However, it is certainly a true scriptural idea. Scriptures emphantically teach that active labour and productivity are a God- given ration to man for his own happiness and safeguard.

By the way, has it ever occurred to you that the concept of “work” in the Bible is never presented as an option or a suggestion, but as an imperative. It is something that SHOULD be done by every human being fashioned in the likeness of God.

Right in the very heart of the Decalogue (ten commandments) is presented the principle of work. God has commanded man to work for six days and to rest on the seventh day (Sabbath). This commandment has two faces, work and rest. There can be no proper rest were work has not occupied. Without productive labor, rest is null and void.

In fact, Idleness at its best can be a curse to the idler himself. The word of God upholds that every person must work with their own hands or at least they should not even attempt to eat if they refuse to work (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

There are several consequences to be reaped by a committed idler. Poverty can result from gross insolence since it amply impedes productivity and personal growth. If there is a surest way of creating a legacy of poverty it is to insist on being lazy and idle.

Ancient wisdom warns, “how long will you sleep, O sluggard? when will you arise out of your sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall your poverty come as a robber, and your lack as an armed man” Proverbs 6:9-11.

It is well demonstrated in the Holy Writ that idleness is a gateway of untold evil. Probably this the ugliest part of boredom. It opens up a person to a sea of temptations. That which a sword or witchcraft can fail to do, boredom can easily and hastily accomplish by blatantly coercing a soul away from the citadel of moral and spiritual uprightness.

I suppose you recall what happened to our forefathers, the children of Israel. The Moabite King, Balak and a fallen prophet by the name of Balaam, conspired to administer a curse on God’s pilgrimage people by means of sorcery and magic.

The incantations and enchantment of the false prophet, Balaam, failed to bewitch unsuspecting Israel. Until Balaam confessed, “how shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD has not defied?” Numbers 23:8.

But wait a minute. You’d want to know the end of this story. That which Balaam’s sorcery and witchcraft failed to acomplish, idleness easily accomplished, and massively so. Beecause when they came to a place called Shittim, here God’s people relaxed and would now sink into gross boredom and idleness.

Shittim was just across the Jordan river. It was a rich plain, covered with verdure, watered with streams from copious fountains, and shaded by luxuriant palm trees. The plain was also called “the city of palm trees” because of the beautiful scenery and refreshment it provided.

Here, there was no Balaam to threaten them with sorcery, or Balaak to afright them with military invasion. There were no battles to fight and no land to subjugate except the promised land which now was in their view. All was peace and tranquility.

It was as if the clock of time stopped moving for they had no hustling to do nor goals to obtain. Until boredom sunk them to the most bottom. Satan wormed his way in their midst and afforded them his own agenda to fulfil since it was apparent that they had none of their own.

“The people began to commit sexual promiscuity with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel” Numbers 25:1-3.

This apostasy was severely punished by the Lord and consequently, more than twenty four thousand people died as a result of this unfortunate ordeal.

CONCLUSION:

Hustling is not a curse but Idleness is. Hard work does not kill. Idleness does. Work and productive labor is God’s appointed recipe for the happiness of man. Vigorous work does not only provide economic and healthful dividends, it’s is also meant to be a safeguard against evil.

Those that are engaged in active labor have less time to indulge into temptations vices. Therefore, if there’s anything worthy doing for ourselves, it is to find something to do with our lives.

By Pastor Nathan Muyambango